The policy will benefit students by expanding access to international learning opportunities
Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Saturday approved a policy on dual, double and joint degree programs to facilitate structured academic collaboration between Pakistani higher education institutions and recognized local and foreign partner institutions.
The policy was introduced in view of increasing globalization of higher education, increasing student mobility, international academic partnerships and the need to align Pakistani higher education with global standards.
It provided a formal regulatory framework for universities seeking to offer collaborative degree programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The policy provided for three forms of collaborative academic arrangements, namely, double degree programs leading to the award of two degrees in different or closely related fields, double degree programs leading to the award of two degrees in the same discipline by partner institutions, and joint degree programs involving the issuance of a single degree jointly awarded and signed by collaborating institutions.
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HEC has stated that such programs can only be offered when universities enter into formal collaboration agreements in accordance with the approved policy. Institutions will be required to obtain necessary legal approvals, execute a detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ensure credit mapping, define admission and exit requirements, disclose fee structures, provide student protection agreements and seek NOC from HEC before launching any such programme.
The policy will benefit students by expanding access to international learning opportunities, credit mobility, joint supervision, global academic exposure and enhancing employability.
It will also support Pakistani universities to strengthen international partnerships, enhance curriculum relevance, improve quality assurance and increase global recognition of Pakistani higher education.
Through this policy, HEC aims to promote the responsible internationalization of higher education, while safeguarding academic standards, student interests and institutional responsibility.
